A Colombian Air Force (FAC) plane with 117 nationals on board landed this Thursday in Bogotá from Beirut as part of a repatriation organized by the Government before the escalation of war in Lebanonreported the Chancellerywhich announced a second flight “when conditions allow” for another 150 people to return.
The aircraft left Bogotá last Saturday to transport Colombians who expressed their desire to return to the country after the Israeli bombings.
“On behalf of the Colombian State and Colombian society we welcome you. The whole country is waiting for you“said the Chancellor Luis Gilberto Murillowhen greeting the repatriates on the plane, an act in which he was accompanied by the Minister of Defense, Iván Velásquezand the Commander of the FAC, General Luis Carlos Córdoba.
(You can read: Iran’s warning to Israel if it responds to its attack: ‘The response will be more severe’).
According to Murillo, on the aircraft that landed on the runway of the Military Transport Air Command (Catam) of Bogotá 50 minors, women, elderly people and even people with their pets arrived..
The plane remained in Cyprus the last few days and then flew to Beirut to pick up the Colombians and immediately take the return flight to the Colombian capital.
Colombians repatriated from Lebanon
EFE / Ministry of Defense
“Very complex” operation
Murillo described the repatriation operation as “very complex“due to the war situation that is being experienced in the region, while highlighting the work of the Colombian ambassador to Lebanon, Edwin Ostosas well as the consulate, who “they risked their lives” for the mission to be successful.
He explained that the situation was “a lot of risk, but the safety of the Air Force, the crew was guaranteed“and of the repatriated.
(Besides: Petro announces the rescue of the six Colombian women kidnapped in Mexico).
Murillo said that the health of the returnees is generally good and that a person who needed medical care on the trip got it because a medical team was on the flight to solve any situation.
This first humanitarian flight was organized by the Ministry of Defense, the Air Force, the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Migration Colombia.
Boxes with humanitarian aid that will be delivered to Lebanon
EFE / Chancellery
The head of the Foreign Affairs portfolio also said on social networks that There will be a second humanitarian flight to Beirut to bring to the country more than 100 Colombians who could not return on the first FAC flight.
“The goal is to make a second flight, since about 150 people want to leave Beirut“said the minister, who also highlighted that this flight will transport humanitarian aid.
(We recommend: Colombia will allocate more than $78 million for medical care to migrants).
According to him Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jorge Rojasthere is 644 Colombians registered at the Lebanon consulateand of them, around 135 are located in areas at risk from bombings.
Besides, Murillo said that other flights will be made to bring humanitarian aid to the civilian population that is at risk in Lebanon and Gazafor which he is dialoguing with Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Various Latin American countries have begun to organize humanitarian flights from Lebanon to evacuate its citizens in the face of the growing escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
EFE
